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Healing missing from indigenous intervention

19 September 2007 - THE need for healing is missing from the Commonwealth's intervention plan to combat child abuse in the Northern Territory, Aboriginal social justice commissioner Tom Calma said today.

Even if the near $600 million intervention program was successful, children were protected and policing became effective, Mr Calma questioned how long-term healing for indigenous communities would come about.

"Where will the culturally appropriate and ongoing healing programs come from if the government doesn't acknowledge that they're needed at all,'' the former senior adviser to the Federal Government told the national conference of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care.

The Commonwealth takeover of 73 Aboriginal Northern Territory communities, under five year leases, was passed by the Senate last month.

Measures under the intervention include welfare restrictions, alcohol and pornography bans and medical checks for children.

Survey teams have so far visited 73 communities and 1658 children have undergone health checks.

However, Mr Calma said most of the money allocated for the Federal Government's plan had been absorbed in employing and housing public servants, contractors and police, and in administering the measures included in the strategy.

"There is no federal budget allocation, at this time, for new indigenous housing, new schools and additional teachers and child protection programs,'' he said.

Mr Calma said the Australian Government had a responsibility to ensure that the emergency measures in the NT improved the well-being of indigenous communities.

"The legislation must operate in a way that is consistent with Australia's human rights laws and obligations,'' he said.

Source: The Herald Sun

Further information: NT Intervention issues page - includes news index and external links